M&E Appraisal Associates, Inc. (“M&EAA”) provide certified chocolate making equipment appraisals. The president of M&EAA, Greg Feinsinger, recently appraised the machinery & equipment of a chocolate products manufacturing company.

The subject chocolate making machinery & equipment included cocoa bean cleaning equipment, miconizing equipment, winnowing equipment, roasting equipment, storage & mixing tanks, milling & grinding equipment, conching lines, molding lines with cooling tunnels, filling & packaging equipment, lab equipment, material handling equipment, etc.

Appraisal conclusions: the subject machinery & equipment was inspected by the appraiser. A majority of the equipment was new, and in very good condition. In the five years prior to 2015, falling raw material prices subdued selling prices, while preference shifts and rising health consciousness among consumers have caused industry demand to fall. Industry performance is expected to improve as the subject company and other producers are expected to introduce healthier products to mitigate adverse perceptions toward chocolate. In addition, sugar and cocoa prices are expected to rise slowly, boosting the selling price of the end product. These economic factors were considered in conjuction with the good physical condition of the subject items, resulting in very favorable value conclusions.